Telephone terminal



Feb. 24, 1948. w, 3, HASSELHORN 2,436,431

TELEPHONE TERMINAL Filed June 21, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 '72 INVENTOR.

36 ZZ/czllrflfizxelhom 24, 1948. w. co HASSELHORN 2,436,431

TELEPHONE TERMINAL Filed June 21, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 24, 1948 TELEPHONE TERMINAL Walter C. Hasselhorn, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Cook Electric Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 21, 1943, Serial No. 491,615

Claims. (Cl. 173-330) This invention is directed to a simple, efficient and inexpensive form of telephone pole jack, and more particularly to a device of this type that may be advantageously used as a compact and weatherproof portable telephone patrol station.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a telephone patrol station that is compact and durable; to provide improved means in a telephone patrol station construction and particularly in the framework of the housing thereof; to utilize this improved means for the purpose of securing a portable weatherproof unit and of securing an extremely inexpensive and simple structure; and to provide improved means for securing greater adaptability of a device having these improved characteristics.

The telephone patrol station herein disclosed is adaptable to a wide variety of uses and uniquely to communication systems set up along docks, firing ranges, warehouses, highway patrols, forestry and national park services, airfields, munitions and loading plants and wherever coastal protection may be desirable. The simplicity of the structure, its inexpensive construction and its durability against the elements of weather make it particularly useful for a broad field of application and assures service at all times.

The invention is also directed to an improved closure device for the jack opening, which closure is designed to maintain the opening covered as long as the jack is not inserted, but to swing to open position by the mere insertion of the jack so as to require the attendant to use one hand only for this purpose and leave him free to handle other instruments.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detail. description when taken in connection with the ac companying drawings in which Figure l is a perspective View looking upwardly at a patrol station unit embodying the invention, the cover or hood being removed;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section and in elevation of the unit with the cover in position;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the unit having the cover in position;

Figs. 4 to 10, inclusive, represent an exploded view of the various parts used in the construction of the unit;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevaticn to illustrate the manner in which the jack plug is inserted to complete the circuit connection; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective view looking at the under side of the block carrying the spring pressed closure member normally closing off the opening for the jack plug when the jack plug is not inserted.

The device shown in the drawing as illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a housing having an intermediate frame member 5 formed into a plurality of sides 6, I and 8 with inturned flanges 9 and I0 defining the marins of a fourth side to which a terminal-carrying plate l l is attached. Flanges 9 and II] are tapped at 12 to receive screws l3 that pass through openings I l in plate H.

v as bottom and top plates, respectively, and are formed in each instance with their sides turned as indicated broadly at H, but with one of the sides designated l8 turned and formed with an offset l9. These end plates l5 and I6 are seated upon the ends of the frame member 5 and are soldered or brazed thereto to form, if so desired, a sealed joint that will exclude dust, moisture, or other foreign matter. The offset portions or lugs :9 on .each end plate will fit between the mar,- ginal flanges 9 and Ill and lie flush with the same so as to form therewith a planar surface that will receive terminal carrying plate I I.

This latter plate H is formed from a single piece and has its side 20 turned so that when plate H is secured by screws 13 to flanges 9 and H3, this side 20 will lie approximately in the plane of side 8 and be coextensive therewith. A very simple form of perforated base 2| is provided adjacent side 20 by turning up the end of plate H and soldering or brazing the joint with side 20 as indicated at 22. Perforation 23 is adapted to receive the line wires adapted to connect to terminals 24 and 25 carried in openings 25' in the plate l 5. These terminals 24 and 25 may be constructed in any suitable way as by insulation bushings 26 carrying internally threaded metallic sleeves 21 having the usual wir connecting stud 28 at the inner end and the collar 29 at the opposite end between which and the head of screw 30 a collar 3| is disposed. To facilitate mounting welding or the like. Bracket 35 need only be of a End plates l5 and it serve width equal to frame member 5 and arranged to extend only part way therealong in the back thereof, if so desired. A protruding guide stud 34 may be pressed outwardly from back wall 8 so as to predetermine the positioning of bracket 35 against the outer face of back wall 8 with respect to the distance it will extend upwardly thereagainst.andalsoto act as a guide foncover; or hood 4!) that; is;p1a ced; over theparts thusfa-r; described.

All these parts may be made by simple stamps, ing operations and assembled in an extremely simple and quick manner. I

Bottom plate [5 is provided with an opening, 4| over which an insulat on. blo k 42, is placed. and secured as by screws 43 to the plate l5; Block 42 may be provided with a raised portion 44 which extends into opening 4| and carriesithereupon-a terminal post or jack 45 having contacts, 46 and 41, to which wires 48 and 49 connect to the terminal posts 24 and 25, respectively. Contac ts46 and 41 are insulated from each other-by an insulation spacer-5ii, contact 46' being incurrent-conductingrelationwith the'standard- 5i of terminal jack 45 and contact 4? beingincnrrent-connectingrelation with a spring contact finger 52; A jackplug 53-is-adapted to beinserted into an opening 54 in insulation block-42 so t-hat one of its terminals;55jis ii -electrical contact with; asleeve 565fixedly secured-in opening-54i Sleeve 56 is in electrical contactwith standard 5| through its base 57, which is-secured=toinsulation block by; screws 58; The otherterminal; 59 01.5 jack 53 is electrically spaced from terminal 555 by an insulation washer '65 and is --adapted to; engage, contact finger; 52*as shown in Fig, 11. Thus acircuit connectionis established toprovide a communication connection with line wires that connect to terminals 24' and 2 5 and lead out through opening 23 in base 210i plate H Jack p lug 53 is part of; the equipmentcarried by the patrol or field man and mere insertion of the same into opening 5,4 promptly establishes this omm ni ation on ecti n y. m a s o i h hern as o v se. Withet rs, a d s nt' n s,

The insertion o Jack. plus. 53 n. opening 54i against the action f. a .spring pressed closure jaw or member 6 2 normally, serving to lie over opening 54 to. keep out dirt, moisture and rodents or insects that tend to enter for shelter and create temporaryshort circuits by lying across both t ina s oi the; uit... Cl sur member .2mm b p vqta ly arriedupon boltfit receivi anutM sted n neningiifi. Bolt iiiis nla sed at, 56 about which..& coil, spring. 6'! is disposed, one end of thecoil spring being placed ijn aslot fififormed' inblock 42'; and the other end in a ot l' ormed in, clos e memb r Itwill be observed in Big, 12. thatclosure rne n hen B2,.isi rmed with re ndins but. pered ane, 1 forming a. i t ha terminat sintd n ed e, H .Qverly ngthe opening 553 Spring. SJ; n ldsel r imember Eleven n ningfie; preieiislv, at da ndr ne nsienei e. spring s. suifficient tolgeepthis edge 62, against a stop, '52, ar i d p n bla 2 hus, p nin s kept losed, Wheniack us 53. is. adapted to be. inserted, the fieldoperator merely projectsthe 5a,, ,9,thereof against this tapered face 10, of; the closure 62 and by. the use of aslight side, movement r ressu e the o u e. 62.. wi l be ammed sidewise until opening 54 .is cleared, this. bringing closure, 62 ag ainst astop 13: carried by block and-un ove i g tneopenine a to. permit. insertion of hQjaQ plug, only, one. handiqfgthe.

terminals 24 and 25, as shown in Fig. 3, the only opening for this chamber I! being opening 23 in base 21 .through which the line wires are passed.

Theinterior of themain frame 5 may be completely sealed and, if so desired, a gasket 78 may "be used betweenbottom plate l5 and block 42.

Obviously, the construction described is rugged and completely weatherproof, although it may be subjected to outside use under the severest weather conditions. The structure is simple and inexpensive. Hence, its usemay be more widespread and with little regard to loss. It is particularly adaptable for coastal protection, air fields, forestry'and national park services, muni tions and loadingpla-nts, highway patrols, docks,

firing ranges, etc., or wherever it isdesirable to establish a communication line and permit plugging in at various points. The frame members are simply formed and easily assembled. The

A, line connections are easily made and the terrninals therefor are simply mounted; upon one side of-the closedchamber, which side is removable to provideaccess to the closed chamber. It will be remembered that these simple features may novelly be used in structures using otherterminal connections than a telephone jack, and hence, I,

do not desire to be necessarily limited to the use of atelephone jack within the closed chamber as long as the inventionis ernployed Without further elaboration the foregoing will o ully pla n h st ofmy nt n at others may, by applying current knowledge, adi y ada t thesame fer seu dervary e nditions of service, without eliminating certain features, which may properly be, said tqconstitute the essentialitems oinoveltyinvolved, which items are intended to. be defined andv secured to me by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A terminal structure of the type described comprising a substantially closed chamber formed by side walls and end walls, one of. said walls beingv removable, flanges along w oneside and the bottom of. said removable wall forming in effect extensions ,of the bottom and the corresponding side wall of said closed chamber, terminals on said removable wall, a. terminalmounting within said closed chamber for connection. with said terminals, on said removable wall, said bottom flange having a line wire openingthrough which line wires may extendupwardly for connection to.v said minals, and ahood sl d ly mou t over said closed chamber and said flanges, the

bottom end wall of said closed chamber being 7 provided with an openin therein toprovide access for a connection with said terminal mounting in said closed chamber.

2 Aterminal structure of the type described comprising a substantially. closed chamber formed by side walls and end walls, one ofsaid Walls being. removable, flanges along one side and the bottom of said closed chamber forming sub stantially planar extensions of thebottom and the corresponding side wall of said closed chamhen, erminalsiensaid removab ea a te i mounting within said closed chamber for connection with said terminals on said removable wall, said bottom flange having a line wire opening through which line wires may extend upwardly for connection to said terminals, and a hood slidably mounted over said closed chamber and said flanges, the bottom end wall of said closed chamber being provided with an opening therein to provide access for a connection with said terminal mounting in said closed chamber, a spring pressed closure member over said opening adapted to be swung to one side in making such connection, the bottom edge of the hood extending below the level of said bottom and closure member to protect the same.

3. A terminal structure of the type described comprising a substantially closed chamber formed by side walls and end walls, one of said walls being removable, flanges along one side and the bottom of said removable wall forming extensions substantially of the bottom and the corresponding side wall of said closed chamber, terminals on said removable wall, said bottom flange having a line wire opening through which line wires may extend upwardl for connection to said terminals, and a hood slidably mounted over said closed chamber and said flanges, the bottom end wall of said closed chamber being provided with an opening, an insulating block at the end wall over said opening, and a terminal jack carried by said block and extending within the closed chamber and having contacts connected with said terminals on said removable wall, said block having an opening therein throug which a jack plug may be inserted for connection with said jack contacts.

4. A terminal structure of the type described comprising a substantially closed chamber formed by side walls and end walls, one of said walls being removable, flanges along one side and the bottom of said removable wall forming in effect extensions of the bottom and the corresponding side wall of said closed chamber, terminals on said removable wall, a terminal mounting within said closed chamber for connection with said terminals on said removable wall, said bottom flange having a line wire opening through which line wires may extend upwardly for connection to said terminals, a hood slidably mounted over said closed chamber and said flanges, the bottom end wall of said closed chamber being provided with an opening therein, an insulating block disposed upon said end wall over said opening, said insulating block having an opening therein for access for a connection to said terminal mounting, means carried externally by said insulating block for normally closing said opening therein, and a mounting bracket over which said hood is slidably positioned, said bracket having an offset portion upon which said hood is seated, said seat and the lower edge of the hood being below the level of said insulating block and said closing means.

5. A terminal structur of the type described comprising a substantially closed chamber formed by side walls and end walls, one of said walls being removable, flanges along one side and the bottom of said removable wall forming in effect extensions of the bottom and the corresponding side wall of said closed chamber, terminals on said removable wall, a jack mounted within said closed chamber for connection with said terminals on said removable wall, said bottom flange having a line wire opening through which line wires may extend upwardly for connection to said terminals, and a hood slidably mounted over said closed chamber and said flanges, the bottom end wall of said closed chamber being provided with an opening therein to provide access for a jack plug for insertion in said jack in said closed chamber,

WALTER C. HASSELHORN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 860,861 Flory July 23, 1907 1,014,796 Wirt Jan. 16, 1912 1,159,207 Gauthier Nov. 2, 1915 1,462,026 Booth July 17, 1923 1,481,368 Hope Jan. 22, 1924 2,155,925 Blinn Apr. 25, 1939 2,157,527 Clarke May 9, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 188,190 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1922 396,520 Great Britain Aug, 10, 1933 

